Speedometer Cable vs Magnets

[Ralgha]

Just put a Koso gauge on and used the adapter on the stock speedometer cable. Is there any reason to use the magnets and pickup instead? What are the pros and cons aside from the extra work of installing?

[Triple Jim]

The only one I can think of is you don't depend on a speedometer cable, which is subject to wear and breakage, if you use a magnetic pickup on the wheel, or rear sprocket, etc. Are you saying you have a Koso speedometer or multifunction unit, and you also have the stock speedometer still functioning?

[Flying]

Removing the speedo hardware will reduce power-robbing friction.
Magnetic pickup speedo will be more accurate when set up correctly.
Speedo cable is another point of mechanical failure.

Using magnets can be finicky to set up first and they will not provide much resolution at low speeds. I think the pros outweigh the cons.

[Ralgha]

I got the plug and play kit, which provides an adapter that screws into the stock cable and generates a digital signal for the gauge, that's what I hooked up for now.

Any ideas on a good way to plug the hole by the wheel hub if I remove the stock cable?

[InvisiBill]

Originally Posted by Ralgha

Any ideas on a good way to plug the hole by the wheel hub if I remove the stock cable?

Spacers. If you don't get rid of the speedo drive, you're not saving as much as you could.

Personally, if I already had a cable adapter on a bike that came with a cable stock, I'd just leave it at that. There are advantages to a magnetic pickup, but I haven't been too impressed with the setup of addon magnets/sensors I've seen.

[Ralgha]

I just left the adapter on it, decided I didn't want to bother messing around with the magnets and pickup.